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Kolkata head into Champions League final under Narine cloud

Kolkata Knight Riders must overcome the loss of Sunil Narine as they prepare to face Chennai Super Kings in the Champions League T20 final.

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Written ByDom Farrell

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Unless the Knight Riders take the unlikely step of selecting
Narine as a specialist batsman, the off-spinner will not feature in
Saturday's game after his action was reported for the second time
in the competition in the semi-final win over Hobart Hurricanes -
landing him a ban from bowling.

West Indies international Narine joins Pakistan star Saeed Ajmal
as a one of the world's leading slow bowlers with the legality of
his action under the microscope.

"This guy has been doing well playing for KKR for the last three
years," West Indies chairman of selectors Clive Lloyd told
ESPNCricinfo.

"If you look at his action, he has been doing pretty much the
same and I want to know what is it that has been found that they
ban him and not say something like, 'Listen, you have a bit of a
problem and you have to rectify it'."

Although Lloyd's support comes as a boost to Narine at a trying
time, the more immediate concern for the Knight Riders is how to
compensate for the loss of the tournament's leading wicket-taker
as they look to extend a phenomenal winning streak to 15
matches in Bangalore.

Predominantly used at the beginning and end of each innings,
Kolkata will have to revise their bowling plans without Narine,
while Chennai will be pleased they need not contend with a player
whose four overs to them in the group stage cost a paltry nine
runs.

A lack of spin alternatives means Australian seamer Pat Cummins
is likely to bolster the Knight Riders' attack, although the
team's batsmen also have plenty to think about.

Half centuries from Ryan ten Doeschate and Andre Russell helped
Kolkata to a three-wicket win with an over to spare in the
tournament opener, but not before Ashish Nehra reduced them to
51-5 on his way to figures of 4-21.

Paceman Nehra was on song once again as Kings XI Punjab were
skittled for 117 in Thursday's semi-final victory.

But Chennai must overcome an uncomfortable run of showpiece
failure, having fallen at the final hurdle in both the 2012 and
2013 Indian Premier League, if they are to pick up a second
Champions League crown.

Kolkata beat their weekend opponents in the 2012 IPL final
and will hope history repeats itself to provide a maiden Champions
League triumph.